Olubusuyi Adenipekun
21 August 2008
Quite aware of the crucial role which technological innovation plays in the socio-economic and political advancement of any nation, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) has called on education stakeholders to begin an aggressive awareness and campaign towards promoting science and technology education in Nigeria as well as providing the body of think-tanks to supply the necessary intellectual initiatives and other support for government.
Speaking recently at the first annual conference of Yaba College of Technology, Governor Fashola added that this mobilizaiton for science and technology education also places on government the responsibility of providing the enabling environment for the full realisation of teaching and learning of science, engineering and technology education, adding that this is necessary because it is what can propel and drive the nation's economy to join the league of twenty countries with the biggest economies by year 2020.
Governor Fashola, who was represented at the event by the Director, Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs Adebisi Adeyeye, said: "There is clearly a relationship between economic development and the level of technology existing in a country. A well thought-out programme that is technology - driven and technically - oriented by our country will transform our economy and provide jobs for millions of our graduates that are job seekers."
Fashola stressed further: "In advancing his argument for a sustainable economic growth through science and technology, Mitchell (1977) posits that technology is the science of industrial arts, the systematic application of various branches of knowledge to practical tasks. The implication of this is that the scientific application of this knowledge would provide a ready - made avenue to empower many to make the society a better place."
"Invention and construction of machines and fabrication of diverse tools such as ice-block making, block making, farm equipment, cassava processing machines and many more are things that can encourage self-employment and increase wealth creation awareness. In addition, it will bring about practical value and benefits such as improved health, longer lives and relief from pains, shorter working days under safer and easier condition, more and better food, clothes and housing, opportunities for education, entertainment and leisure. It will contribute to increased export earnings when breakthroughs are made, for instance, in the fields of minerals extraction or agro-processing."
Based on these various utilitarian values of science and technology education, the Lagos State Governor called for the urged need to raise the profile of science and technology to attract people who will make the sector more functional, adding that "we need to systematically target young people with ability and provide them with career guidance and inspiration, we have to grow science knowledge workers at a robust pace to breathe new life into the sector."
He called on the Federal Government to intensify its efforts by increasing admission quota in the sciences and encourage science teachers in the nation's secondary and technical schools, explaining that when the 6-3-3-4 system of education was introduced, it has as its broad aim the encouragement of technical education and raising of awareness in science and technology in the country.
Governor Fashola links the success of the federal government's seven-point agenda to the level of the nation's education and collective will, especially in the areas of science, technology and engineering.
The maiden edition of the annual conference which was organised by Yaba College of Technology in conjunction with Applied Research and Technology Innovation Unit (ARTI) had as its theme "Technology and Entrepreneurship Development: Road Map to Nigeria 2020 Vision."
In his welcome address, the Rector of the College, Mr. Olubunmi Owoso said efforts have been made in repositioning the first higher institution of learning in Nigeria to be able to contribute towards the nation's development.
He said this re-engineering efforts is encapsulated in the strategic plan of the college which has been followed by articulation of entrepreneurial development, explaining that a number of developments have emerged from this strategic plan which include the creation of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Development as well as the establishment of the Applied Research and Technology Innovation Centre.
According to Owoso, the quality of human resources is central to science and technology, adding that YABATECH has established collaboration with Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in the area of biotechnology.
At the conference, the Director General/ CEO of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Professor B.O. Solomon delivered a lecture entitled: Biotechnology Research and Enterprises Development in Nigeria."
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